Self-Service System and Method for Lodging Establishment Convenience Shops

Abstract

A self-service system and method for lodging establishment convenience shops to allow a guest to pay for convenience shop items and avoid waiting in line at a front desk. An example method includes obtaining item identification information associated with items selected for purchase by a customer at a convenience shop of the lodging establishment by a self-service terminal, obtaining prices of the items by the self-service terminal, recording customer selection of a charge to room payment option by the self-service terminal, determining whether the customer has registered as a guest of the lodging establishment by the self-service terminal, and charging a total cost of the items to a reservation record by the self-service terminal when the customer has registered.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A convenience shop transaction method at a lodging establishment comprising:
 obtaining item identification information associated with items selected for purchase by a customer at a convenience shop of the lodging establishment by a self-service terminal;   obtaining prices of the items by the self-service terminal;   recording customer selection of a charge to room payment option by the self-service terminal;   determining whether the customer has registered as a guest of the lodging establishment by the self-service terminal; and   charging a total cost of the items to a reservation record by the self-service terminal when the customer has registered.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining step comprises:
 obtaining room key information from a room key of the customer by the self-service terminal.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the determining step further comprises:
 determining whether the room key information corresponds to a room at the lodging establishment by the self-service terminal.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the determining step further comprises:
 determining whether the room is currently assigned or unassigned.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the determining step further comprises:
 recording customer entry of verification information by the self-service terminal; and   comparing the verification information to reservation information associated with the room.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining step comprises:
 obtaining a room number from a room key of the customer by the self-service terminal.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the determining step further comprises:
 recording customer entry of a verification room number by the self-service terminal; and   comparing the verification room number to the room number obtained from the room key by the self-service terminal.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining step comprises:
 obtaining a room number from a reservation barcode of the customer by the self-service terminal;   recording customer entry of a verification room number by the self-service terminal; and   comparing the verification room number to the room number obtained from the reservation barcode by the self-service terminal.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the room number obtaining step comprises:
 scanning the reservation barcode from a mobile communication device of the customer by the self-service terminal.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the prices obtaining step comprises:
 sending the item identification information to a point of sale system by the self-service terminal; and   obtaining the prices from the point of sale system by the self-service terminal.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 denying payment by the self-service terminal when the customer has not registered.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 sending an alert to a front desk computer asking an attendant to provide assistance to the customer.   
     
     
         13 . A lodging establishment convenience shop transaction self-service terminal comprising:
 a code reader for obtaining item identification information associated with items selected for purchase by a customer; and   a processor for obtaining prices of the items, for recording customer selection of a charge to room payment option, for determining whether the customer has registered as a guest of the lodging establishment, and for charging a total cost of the items to a reservation record by the self-service terminal when the customer has registered.   
     
     
         14 . The self-service terminal of  claim 13 , wherein the processor obtains a room number from a room key of the customer. 
     
     
         15 . The self-service terminal of  claim 14 , wherein the processor records customer entry of a verification room number, and compares the verification room number to the room number obtained from the room key. 
     
     
         16 . The self-service terminal of  claim 13 , wherein the processor obtains a room number from a reservation barcode of the customer. 
     
     
         17 . The self-service terminal of  claim 16 , wherein the code reader comprises a barcode reader and wherein the barcode reader scans the reservation barcode from a mobile communication device of the customer. 
     
     
         18 . The self-service terminal of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is also for denying payment when the customer has not registered. 
     
     
         19 . The self-service terminal of  claim 18 , wherein the processor is also for sending an alert to a front desk computer asking an attendant to provide assistance to the customer. 
     
     
         20 . A lodging establishment convenience shop transaction system comprising:
 a property management system for creating a record of a reservation for a guest; and   a convenience shop transaction self-service terminal including
 a code reader for obtaining item identification information associated with items selected for purchase by a customer; and 
 a processor for obtaining prices of the items, for recording selection of a charge to room payment option by the guest, for determining that the guest has the reservation at the lodging establishment, and for charging a total cost of the items to the record of the reservation.